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CIMINELLI TAKES COLLEGE TOURNEY TITLE

Erie Community College freshman Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga is breaking into collegiate bowling impressively.

Ciminelli, who won the national Junior Masters title in the spring, captured the All-Events title at the recent Nittany Lion Kegler Classic in Bellefonte, Pa. The ECC men's team finished sixth in a field of 36 teams, which included two- and four-year schools. The Kats women also were sixth, in a field of 14 teams.

Ciminelli had an All-Events total of 1,432, an average of 238.67. He had sets of 717 and 715 with a high game of 268. Next-highest finisher for the Kats was Jon McGinn with 1,210, 42nd among more than 200 bowlers.

The ECC men had a 9,318 team total, tops among two-year schools.

Amanda Fogarty was the top finisher among the ECC women, placing 17th in All-Events with 1,179. She had a 592 and 587 series, averaging 196.5. The team total of 8,203 was 1,477 behind first-place finisher Fairleigh Dickinson "A" but more than 500 pins better than the next best two-year school, Briarcliff College.

The Kats resume their schedule with tournaments in Allentown, Pa., and New Jersey after Christmas.

In between his ECC matches, Ciminelli keeps sharp bowling for Alden Lanes in the BPA Buffalo Beverage Miller Lite All-Stars traveling league. He had a 279-781 last weekend at Recckio's. The day was highlighted by the 48th 300 game of Jeff Walsh's career. Walsh bowled his 18th 800 series, an 823, for Southgate.

Ironically, both Walsh's Southgate team and Ciminelli's Manor team were on the losing end of team matches.

Angelo gets fifth tour 300

Brad Angelo bowled his fifth career 300 on the PBA Tour on Tuesday in the first round of the PBA Pepsi Open in Wichita, Kan.

The Lockport pro was trailing, 2-0, in his best-of-seven match against Matt McFayden when he spun his perfecta. McFayden won the next game for a 3-1 advantage, but Angelo won the next three to advance.

Buffalo pros Joe Ciccone and Tom Baker also rallied for first-round wins. Ciccone trailed, 1-0 and 2-1, before defeating Justin Hromek in seven games, closing the match with a 299 game. Baker lost the opener to Norm Duke before winning in six games, averaging 261.5 over the last four games.

Ciccone, however, was the only one of the three local pros to survive the Round of 32, sweeping Doug Kent, 4-0. Angelo lost, 4-1, to Steve Wilson while Baker fell to Michael Haugen Jr., 4-1.

After his second-place finish in the PBA BowlersParadise.com Open last week, Angelo stood fifth in the tour points race with 44,396. Danny Wiseman, the leader, has 62,813. Angelo was eighth in earnings with $31,200, eighth in average at 224.93, second with a .667 winning percentage in match play games (36-18). Baker ranks fifth in spare percentage at 85.33 (128 of 150).

The Pepsi had a storybook opening round. Kelly Bonta finished his day's work at a steel plant, then swept No. 1 seed and 40-time tour winner Walter Ray Williams Jr. in the first round. Bonta became the first amateur to win a match this season.

Also, for the first time this season a bowler competing with a commissioner's exemption won a match. Tim Penner, one of five former Wichita State University bowlers to survive the first round, defeated Steve Jaros, 4-1.

Tour revival going slow

The Women's International Bowling Congress is still working on plans to revive the professional women's tour, but the process is taking time. The WIBC is seeking sponsors and television coverage as well as developing a business plan.

What's complicating things is the WIBC is also involved with the details of its transition to the new United States Bowling Congress, which will acquire the PWBA when the merger of the WIBC with the American Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling Alliance and USA Bowling takes place Jan. 1.

Pin chasers

The Buffalo Bowling Association Hall of Fame Banquet is tonight at Samuel's Grand Manor in Clarence. Fran Bax, Pete Cambio Sr. and the late Jim Russo Sr. will be enshrined in the ability category, while Eugene P. "Whitey" Heidenburg and the late Kerm Helmer will be installed in the contributors category. . . . The BPA Buffalo Beverage Miller Lite All-Stars visit Orchard Park Lanes at 2 today. e-mail: mnorthrop@buffnews.com